Posted October 3, 2022
Access to health care will improve significantly for some of the region's most vulnerable families with the opening of the Conyngham
Primary Health Care Center (CPHCC) by Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley (CSC) and its adult care affiliate, Robinson Counseling
Center (RCC), at 335 South Franklin Street this week.
The new, 12,500-sq. ft. construction houses a full-time primary care team to serve children and adults of all ages – both current clients
of CSC/RCC and others in the community. The Conyngham Center integrates services under a single medical record to address mental health
concerns, preventive medicine, disease diagnosis & management, physicals, and wellness services with an on-site pharmacy.
Named for the Conyngham Family to honor its longstanding partnership of service with CSC, the Conyngham Center commemorates continuous service
on its Board of Directors for more than 150 years, currently by Board Member George Conyngham Jr.
The $5.5 million project was fully funded by a capital campaign that drew major support from AllOne Foundation & Charities, the Harry & Jeannette
Weinberg Foundation, M&T Bank, Moses Taylor Foundation, PNC, the McCole Foundation, Martha Bennet Trust, the Children's Home, and Children's Service
Center, as well as funding from corporate and private donors.
CSC President and CEO Michael P. Hopkins said the organization's plan for integrated care is based on the knowledge that people with mental health
concerns who also have regular primary care have better outcomes. "We have fulfilled a goal to improve care access with the help of like-minded partners
who want to have a positive impact on the region's health. Almost 85% of our clients receive some form of public assistance and many face a
higher level of risk in their daily lives due to disparities in income, education, housing, access to care, and social isolation. These families
deserve a more seamless experience to get the care they need."
"Children with emotional and mental health disorders often improve when their physical health is treated," Hopkins said, "and parents often
have difficulty finding services for their families, which impacts growth and development, while putting off care for themselves. The Conyngham Primary
Health Care Center will deliver care comprehensively to address general health, mental health, and the social support needs of our clients in a continuous
and family-centered manner."
CSC and RCC collectively served more than 11,000 clients in 2021 across locations in Wilkes-Barre, Tunkhannock, Honesdale, Hazleton, and Danville,
providing individual and family support for mental health, substance use and autism spectrum disorders. Throughout its 160-year history, CSC has
expanded to meet the growing need for behavioral health services (including crisis intervention) in Northeastern Pennsylvania, experiencing a near
doubling of clients between 2017 and 2021. Despite many changes in the regional healthcare landscape, CSC and RCC have maintained continuous operations
due to the guidance of a dedicated Board of Directors, a strong workforce, and longstanding partnerships with funders, municipalities, school districts,
and individual donors who are committed to meeting the needs of underserved populations.
A formal dedication of the Conyngham Primary Health Care Center is planned for later this year.
For appointments at the Conyngham Primary Health Care Center, call 570-301-0924.